BLOOMING in my Woodland Garden just now are the “Candelabra Primroses.” What a relief to see the colorful spires against an otherwise all-green setting of ferns and hostas. More pictures, and a little advice for growing this generous Primula Japonica:
Like P. malecoides, the “fairy primrose” we all enjoy as a winter houseplant, japonica produces not one, not two, but three delightful tiers of bloom. These come in shades pink, red or white. I have ‘Miller’s Crimson,’ pale pink ‘Appleblossom’ and creamy white ‘Alba.’
Japonica is easy enough to grow. Give it a shady, moist spot, and it will bloom for you from May through mid-July. The plant will freely reseed itself, too, unless you fiddle around in its bed in early spring. This can harm the emerging shoots, which look, at first glance, like pale-green lettuce leaves.
If I didn’t already have a japonica collection in my woodland, I’d immediately start one. The plant is hardy in zones 4-8.
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A Peach of a Shrub: Chaenomeles ‘Cameo’
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Gregory says
May 25, 2011 at 11:30 pmAbsolutely beautiful! I know that malecoides is fragrant — what about japonica?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
May 26, 2011 at 12:03 amGregory – Japonica is not fragrant. But that is its only fault.
Broken Barn Industries says
May 26, 2011 at 10:36 amKevin, my pulmonaria makes tons of babies every spring. Can those handle full wood shade like your primroses?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
May 26, 2011 at 11:54 amBBI – Pulmonaria are great beauties, too! I'd plant those babies where they get dappled light; in a too-dark location they will not bloom.
Broken Barn Industries says
May 29, 2011 at 11:37 amBummer- guess I'll just sell off the extras and make some money to buy primroses! I would be honored if you'd “visit” my garden via my blog, Kevin (just click on Broken Barn Industries here). We have almost 2 acres and have been actively working on the gardens for the past four years. The goal is No Lawn! (Well, maybe some paths…)
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
May 29, 2011 at 1:19 pmBBI – I did stop by your garden just now, and left a comment there. Great property you have! Is your house old like mine — built around 1826 or so?
Ardelle says
June 6, 2015 at 1:57 pmThis year has been the best one for my primroses. I guess I dug around them too much in the past. They survived late snow and several 3″ rain downpours.